In common with virtually all the people I commonly paddle with, I canoe solo. That’s how I was taught, and how the peer group I graduated into does things. Recently, however, this has begun to change, and by giving an account of the process, I hope to tempt others down the path which leads away from solitary vice!

It was some time ago that heated discussion amongst a group of friends led to the conclusion that BCU coaching policy was irrational. Shocking, I agree, but facts, however unpleasant, must be faced. The problem was that whilst the coaching syllabus requires passing the star tests solo, we were spending most of our time as coaches and guides teaching doubles. Barking mad!

I warn you, once you start thinking like this, there’s no turning back. Though it took some time, eventually Buckshot Bob and I decided to try paddling double, the catalyst being a projected 3-man trip to Scotland and the problems inherent in car-topping all those boats. A test run on the Mon. & Brec. was encouraging, the Axemouth weekend provided further encouragement, and the Scots trip was a clincher. We did not automatically end up sleeping with the fish, nor were we struck by lightning.

On our return from the treeless north, and very tentatively, we decided to see if this would translate to white water. In short, it does. Once again, and to my surprise, the boat did not simply roll over with all that weight [me] in it. I was astonished by the ease with which eddies could be caught, waves surfed, complex manoeuvres executed. And the power! The drums, the flies, the natives, I tell you, Carruthers..... It really has opened a whole new world [not hurt in any way by the fact that we get to use Bob’s boat, a rather more advanced model than my old glass prospector!]

By now you will have gathered I liked travelling tandem, and before I get carried away, it’s time to look at the situation dispassionately. There are definite advantages in travelling two-up, so lets look at a few of them. Don’t worry, I’ll list the disadvantages too.

Before you even get on the water, life is easier. Only one boat to shift, and two to do it. At least for the usual day trip, gear weight can be much reduced, and on a longer trip, sharing some gear can make a difference to the all-up weight. Fewer vehicles are needed for shuttles, and there’s always one person to guard the boats.

Once on the water, more subtle advantages appear. Power to weight ratio is improved - there’s less than twice as much stuff to paddle, and two people paddling it. This will give fast acceleration, and easy cruising. Hull drag is reduced [not by half, a tandem boat is deeper in the water]. Steering improves because not only are there two people doing it, but they’re both out at the ends of the boat, the position of maximum effectiveness. A doubles team can use a longer boat. This gives advantages in increased maximum speed, and less effort at a more usual pace. You can travel further, quicker, and with less effort as part of a doubles crew.

There are, of course, some problems. Though in windy conditions you have plenty of reserve power, there are also two of you sticking up out of the boat acting as air brakes. You may have to adjust position to the centre of the canoe in certain conditions, getting out through surf for example, where a solo paddler could sit pat and grin. Trim shifts are easier though, the stern paddler just moves forward a little, there’s already that weight in the bow.

These balances of problem versus advantage are quite normal in life, of course. Very few things are an unmixed good or evil. In rescues, a tandem crew will get there faster, and one can sort the problem whilst the other attends to their own boat’s remaining upright, or keeps them off the naughty rocks, but if the tandem crew go over, there are two to fish out.

The biggest problem, though, is chemistry. A crew have to gel. Put two prima donnas in one boat, and what you get is Monkey Tennis. Just cruising around on flat water this is not so important, but on white water, the two of you have to communicate on a non-verbal level and in double quick time, or you’re off to the fish shop. Frankly, this either works or it doesn’t, but the main thing seems to be a willingness to laugh at the cock-ups you’ll certainly make at first. If your entire being is tied up in appearing to be the perfect paddler, it’s going to be difficult to trust another person in the same boat, or to laugh when it all goes pear shaped, but in terms of sheer power and efficiency, when it works, trust me, it’s worth it.

I’m told that in Hungary, a couple cannot get married until they have sawn a log into firewood with a two-hander saw, and having tried this, I see what they mean. Tandem canoeing is very similar, after some time amongst the sheep of the north, even Bob began to look attractive. Perhaps Relate should employ the OCA as pre-nuptial counsellors.

Of course you don’t have to paddle just either solo or tandem, you can do both, [at the same time, if you’re very unfortunate] but a last dire warning, if you’ve done a white water run tandem, keep your wits about you next time you run it solo, remember that extra motor and steering isn’t there, and there’s no one else to blame.

So, anyone for five star doubles?

MICK WALL